Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 941 - 849: Surpassing the Sun King

October 27th.

Paris.

Saint Michel Avenue was covered with a scarlet carpet, extending all the way to the front of Saint Michel Square.

The Swiss Guard, dressed in white uniforms with red patterns, stood with spears in hand on both sides of the road.

Behind them were countless Parisians—on this day, there was nothing else for the people of Paris to do, almost everyone gathered here awaiting the Crown Prince’s entrance into the city.

Many had arrived two days earlier to queue up, just to secure a foothold.

Even those spectators twenty rows back, barely able to see what was happening on the avenue, had been waiting here since the early hours of the previous day.

At ten o’clock in the morning, as the continuous firing of cannons echoed, the crowd excitedly craned their necks to look.

In the distance, more than 50 military band members marched in formation, walking proudly with heads held high.

Following them were dozens of children holding clay pots, spreading cornflower petals along the ground. Behind them were priests from Notre Dame de Paris, sprinkling holy water around.

The crowd suddenly erupted with deafening cheers, for they had glimpsed the figure of the Crown Prince surrounded by hundreds of trusted aides.

Shouts of "Long live the Crown Prince" and "May Jesus bless the Crown Prince" rose continuously. Many also imitated the drumbeats of the Guard Corps, banging on the pots in their hands.

As Joseph slowly advanced, people on both sides of the road bowed — unlike before, everyone did so not only because of prescribed etiquette but out of admiration and reverence for the young man before them.

The news of the French Army’s great victory in Luxembourg had already spread throughout the streets, and what was also eagerly discussed was the great victory in the Southern Netherlands, Italy, and the triumph in the naval battle in the Mediterranean Sea.

The people of France had not celebrated victories with such pride in a long time.

Their Crown Prince had led the army to virtually sweep through France’s neighbors from east to west.

And they were all victories!

Defeated by the Crown Prince’s sword were contemporary powers like Austria, Prussia, and England, as well as smaller entities such as Sardinia, the Netherlands, and Bavaria.

Even the Sun King might find it hard to match such achievements.

How could people not go mad for this?

In the middle of Saint Michel Avenue, Archbishop Beaumont was respectfully waiting for the Crown Prince. Behind him, eight senior deacons carried the Holy Box holding the relics of Saint Louis — a ceremonial rite used only for extremely significant events.

Joseph, with his brain pounded by the surrounding cheers and drums, still managed to wave energetically to those around him.

As he approached the Holy Box, he reined in his horse, and the priest beside him softly prompted him on the ritual steps.

Joseph secretly sighed, silently calculating how many kilometers of carpet he had to pay for, as well as the cost of the flowers that covered both sides of the road, before dismounting to kiss the iris emblem on the corner of the box.

Hundreds of trusted aides behind him fired into the air, while the gathered people shouted even more fervently, oblivious to their hoarsening voices.

The procession of the Crown Prince then continued moving forward.

It was not until Joseph entered the Louvre and transferred to a carriage that he let out a long breath, massaging his buzzing ears.

However, he didn’t wait long to rest, as there was still a grand celebration to attend at the Palace of Versailles.

In the Versailles Palace Square, Queen Mary saw her son’s somewhat emaciated face from afar and rushed over quickly, ignoring etiquette.

Joseph hurriedly bowed. Before he could straighten up, the Queen eagerly pulled him into a tight embrace, then stepped back half a step, looked him up and down, and kept muttering:

"I heard that in Luxembourg, you were fighting the Prussians with ten thousand cavalry, darting back and forth under the fire of over a hundred cannons, even the old Duke of Brunswick came with his guard to duel you...

"Oh, Jesus bless, it’s lucky you weren’t injured, otherwise I would be forever consumed by grief and guilt..."

Joseph, hearing this, was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, thinking to himself who could have spread such rumors, more exaggerated than a Hollywood blockbuster.

He quickly reassured his mother with a smile: "Don’t listen to their nonsense, it wasn’t all that dangerous, the closest I ever got to the enemy was over a kilometer."

Queen Mary, evidently unconvinced, held her son’s arm and walked towards the main gate of the Palace of Versailles, while sternly instructing him not to be so reckless on the battlefield again.

Louis XVI wanted to approach and speak with his son, but seeing the multitude of nobles around, he lowered his head and followed silently behind his wife and child.

As Joseph walked through the path lined with welcoming nobles, he overheard someone discussing, "That day, the Crown Prince led twenty thousand hussars, charging all the way from Viertz to Diekirch..."

"Baron Monmorency, you’re surely mistaken, it was thirty thousand hussars."

"Definitely thirty thousand, I heard it too, they broke through fourteen Prussian lines in a single day!"

"Indeed, over seventy thousand Prussian soldiers were driven into the Wuer River, their bodies even blocked the water..."

"You know what was most impressive? There were over two hundred twelve-pounder cannons, oh, maybe they were eighteen-pounders, I can’t remember, but anyway they were ambushed on the path of the Prince’s charge, then they suddenly opened fire!"

The young noble next to him immediately chimed in: "And all those cannonballs flew past the Prince without hitting him. He then commanded the cavalry to capture all those cannons..."

Dozens of nobles around made the sign of the cross on their chests, "This truly is an act of Jesus."

"Jesus forever blesses the Son of Divine Favor!"

Joseph suddenly felt so awkward he wanted to dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes. This rumor monger isn’t Hollywood-style, it’s full-on Bollywood scriptwriting...

Not until they entered the banquet hall did Queen Mary finally finish her safety admonitions.

She pulled Joseph to sit, then revealed a mysterious smile: "By the way, I have the best gift in the world to give you. Hmm, take a guess, what is it?"

Joseph cooperatively put on a serious thinking pose: "Could it be, a strawberry honey cake?"

Queen Mary waggled her fan with a smile: "Camellia told me in a letter that the sweets I sent last time kept you up worrying. From now on, we’ll have them make you cashew crisp, she says you love that.

"Oh, let’s talk about the gift first."

"Then, it’s a pure-blood horse..." Joseph stopped himself before saying it, shaking his head, "I truly have no idea. Please, tell me, what is it?"

Queen Mary leaned a bit closer, her face full of pride:

"It’s your favorite, the beautiful, dignified, gentle, and lovely Princess.

"I helped you propose to Her Majesty Catherine II for marriage months ago, and she has agreed to give you her granddaughter."